When was the Quran written, and who compiled it?
The Quran was revealed over about 23 years, from 610 to 632 CE, and written down as it was revealed. It was gathered into one volume under Abu Bakr soon after the Prophet's death, and standard copies were sent out under Uthman around 650 CE. Here is the history, step by step.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
Revelation over 23 years
Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibril, beginning in Ramadan, around 610 CE. The first words revealed were:
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ﴿١﴾ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ﴿٢﴾ ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥﴾
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 610 CE | Revelation begins in the cave of Hira, near Makkah, in Ramadan. The first verses revealed are the opening of Surah Al-‘Alaq (96:1–5). |
| 610–632 CE | Verses are revealed over about 23 years. Companions memorise them and scribes, most famously Zayd ibn Thabit, write them down. |
| 632 CE | The Prophet ﷺ dies in Madinah. The whole Quran exists in memory and in written pieces, but not yet as one bound volume. |
| c. 633 CE | After many reciters are killed at the Battle of Yamamah, Abu Bakr, urged by Umar, asks Zayd ibn Thabit to gather the Quran into one copy. |
| c. 650 CE | Caliph Uthman has standard copies made from that compilation and sent to the main Muslim cities. |
| 7th–8th c. | Dots to tell letters apart and vowel marks are added to help readers, without changing the text. |
Writing during the Prophet's lifetime
As verses were revealed, the Prophet ﷺ recited them to his companions and dictated them to scribes. They were written on whatever was available, including parchment, palm stalks, flat stones and bones, and the companions memorised them at the same time. Zayd ibn Thabit later described gathering the Quran "from palm stalks, thin white stones, and the memories of men" (Sahih al-Bukhari 4986).
Compilation under Abu Bakr
About a year after the Prophet's death, many of those who knew the Quran by heart were killed at the Battle of Yamamah. Umar ibn al-Khattab urged the caliph Abu Bakr to gather it into one book, and Zayd ibn Thabit led the work, accepting written material only when it could be confirmed. That compilation stayed with Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Umar's daughter Hafsah.
Standardisation under Uthman
As Islam spread, people in different regions began to differ in how they recited. Around 650 CE the caliph Uthman had standard copies made from Hafsah's compilation and sent them to the main cities, with instructions to follow the dialect of Quraysh. The spelling of those copies is known as the Uthmani script.
The recognised ways of reciting the text, such as Hafs and Warsh, are explained in qira'at. For what the Quran is and why Muslims memorise it, see what is the Quran.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ write the Quran?
No. Muslim sources describe the Prophet ﷺ as unlettered. He recited the revelation, and companions memorised it while scribes wrote it down at his dictation.
Who compiled the Quran into a book?
Zayd ibn Thabit, under the first caliph Abu Bakr, gathered the written pieces and checked them against memorisers. The third caliph Uthman later had standard copies made from that compilation.
Has the Quran changed since it was written?
Muslims believe the Quran has been preserved unchanged, both in writing and in the memories of huffaz in every generation. Very early manuscripts, such as the Birmingham Quran fragments, match the text read today.
What is the Birmingham Quran manuscript?
Two parchment leaves held by the University of Birmingham, containing parts of Surahs 18 to 20. In 2015 radiocarbon dating placed the parchment between 568 and 645 CE, making it one of the oldest known Quran manuscripts.
Read the Quran as it has been read for 1,400 years
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time, with tajweed from the first lesson.